Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs Texas at Austin - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: Texas at Austin admits 26.6%, Illinois Urbana-Champaign admits 42.4%.
The share of international students differs sharply: 14.9% (Illinois Urbana-Champaign) against 4.5% (Texas at Austin).
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Texas at Austin awards international students $21,838 on average, Illinois Urbana-Champaign awards $5,836.
You do not have to choose between price and outcome here: Illinois Urbana-Champaign costs $38,400 against $44,908, and its graduates earn $81K against $75K (Texas at Austin).
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Texas at Austin is the more selective of the two (26.64% vs 42.37% acceptance). Texas at Austin ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#55 vs #45). Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $75K). Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 vs $44,908 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Illinois Urbana-Champaign for: higher graduate earnings, lower tuition, a larger aid package.
Choose Texas at Austin for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Texas at Austin is more selective (26.64% vs 42.37% acceptance); Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1395).
Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($81K vs $75K); Texas at Austin has a higher 6-year graduation rate (88.9% vs 85.1%).
Illinois Urbana-Champaign has lower sticker-price tuition ($38,400 vs $44,908); Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers a larger average aid package ($23,217 vs $20,219).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Texas at Austin |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #55 | #45 |
| Rank · THE | #46 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 42.37% | 26.64% |
| Yield rate | 28.8% | 47.4% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1395 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 73,742 | 72,885 |
| International students | 14.9% | 4.5% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $81K | $75K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $55K | $51K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $117K | $117K |
| Graduation rate | 85.1% | 88.9% |
| Retention rate | 94.8% | 96.7% |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $20,500 |
| Tuition · year | $38,400 | $44,908 |
| Avg. aid package | $23,217 | $20,219 |
| % of need met | 0.8% | 75% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $22,395 | $19,919 |
| Application fee | $50 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 59,238 | 53,864 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Texas at Austin?
It's harder to get into Texas at Austin. Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts 42.37% of applicants, while Texas at Austin accepts 26.64%.
Do Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Texas at Austin graduates earn more?
Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $81K vs $75K.
How much is tuition at Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs Texas at Austin?
Sticker-price tuition is $38,400 per year at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and $44,908 per year at Texas at Austin.
What SAT score do you need for Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Texas at Austin?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and 1395 at Texas at Austin; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Texas at Austin?
Texas at Austin ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #55 for Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs #45 for Texas at Austin.
Which university offers more financial aid - Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Texas at Austin?
The average aid package is $23,217 at Illinois Urbana-Champaign and $20,219 at Texas at Austin.
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